KYIV. Aug 31 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Economic Development and Trade Ministry of Ukraine would help to receive access to foreign markets by Ukrainian pipe manufacturers, in particular, the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), especially Kazakhstan and Belarus.
The ministry said in a press release that the obstacles for supplies of Ukrainian pipes to foreign markets were discussed at a meeting of Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Ukraine’s Trade Representative Natalia Mykolska with representatives of the pipe industry.
According to the release, the sides discussed exports of Ukrainian products, including the problems of getting access to foreign market for pipe products, in particular, the EAEU market. Ukrainian manufacturers expressed alarm with the situation around the antidumping duties for steel pipes. The antidumping duty of 18.9-37.8% does not allow Ukrainian products to compete on the EAEU market.
At present, the safeguard measures are being reviewed. This was initiated by Ukrainian manufacturers aiming to liberalize them.
“It is important for us to oppose measures that restrict access of Ukrainian pipe products to foreign markets. We will consider the possibility of protecting Ukraine’s rights and interests in the trade and economic sphere within the WTO [World Trade Organization] agreements,” Mykolska said.
The participants of the meeting said that the safeguard measures related to the access of Ukrainian pipes, in particular to the traditional markets of Kazakhstan and Belarus, are artificial and do not meet the requirements of the international trade law established by the WTO. The ministry will work out the issue of protecting the interests of the domestic production sector, taking into account the mechanisms permitted under the WTO rules.
